Maryland veteran education benefits
Stars rate how much each state offers veterans themselves for college, training and exam fees (family-only programs don't count): 5 = free public-college tuition for most resident veterans, no disability rating needed; 3 = partial grants or narrower eligibility; 1 = little or nothing beyond federal benefits. How we rate
Partial-cost scholarships for Iraq/Afghanistan vets and for 25%+ rated vets whose GI Bill is gone; funding-limited.
Checked Oct 7, 2026. State benefits change often. Confirm the details with the state agency before you apply.
Verify on the official page means we could not fully confirm that detail on the agency's own page.
For veterans
Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC)
- What it covers
- Up to 50% of annual tuition, mandatory fees and room and board of the most expensive USM resident undergraduate program (2025-26 caps shown: up to $8,699 on campus / $5,637 off campus / $5,067 with parents); renewable up to 4 years full-time or 8 years part-time. Veterans get priority over dependents.
- Who qualifies and limits
- Served in Afghanistan (on/after Oct 24, 2001) or Iraq (on/after Mar 19, 2003); Maryland resident; regular undergraduate (or transferable 2-year certificate) program at an eligible MD institution; annual application window (2025-26 closed Apr 1, 2026); subject to funds.
Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship – veteran category
- What it covers
- Tuition and other educational expenses (amounts now set by institution allocations) at eligible Maryland institutions; undergraduate, graduate or professional.
- Who qualifies and limits
- Veteran with a service-connected disability of 25% or greater who has EXHAUSTED or is no longer eligible for federal VA education benefits; Maryland resident at application; subject to funds.
Maryland National Guard STW/STAR
Verify on the official page
- What it covers
- Tuition waiver/reimbursement for degrees and vocational/trade credit courses.
- Who qualifies and limits
- Maryland National Guard members.
For spouses and children
Conroy Memorial Scholarship – family categories
- What it covers
- Tuition and educational expenses at eligible MD institutions.
- Who qualifies and limits
- Child/stepchild of a service member who died from service or is 100% permanently SC disabled; un-remarried surviving spouse of a 100% SC veteran; Vietnam POW/MIA children. Maryland residency.
VAIC – dependents/spouses
- What it covers
- Same as VAIC above.
- Who qualifies and limits
- Child, stepchild or spouse of an Afghanistan/Iraq veteran or service member; MD resident.
If you left the service 15 to 20 years ago
Good options for long-separated vets: VAIC has no discharge-date limit (requires Iraq/Afghanistan service) and Conroy covers vets rated 25%+ once their GI Bill is exhausted/expired – useful for someone out 15-20 years whose Montgomery GI Bill has lapsed. Both are funding-limited.
Who to contact
- State veterans agency
- Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families
- Education office
- Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) – Office of Student Financial Assistance
- State Approving Agency (approves schools and programs for the GI Bill)
- Maryland Higher Education Commission (State Approving Agency)
Sources we checked
- mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/ProgramDescriptions/prog_vaic.
- mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/ProgramDescriptions/prog_conro
- nasaa-vetseducation.com/nasaa-contacts/
- myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/State/Territory-Benefits/Maryland
Federal benefits such as the GI Bill and VR&E are separate. See the FAQ and the GI Bill programs.